Ignition mechanism



"Dec. 19, 1933. H. c. WALTERS IGNITION MECHANISM Filed Febl 11, 1932 atenteel Dec. 19, 1933 eiden rdra'rron rune Herbert (C. Walters, Dayton, @hio, assignor to 'endix Aviation @orporation, South Bend llnd...

a corporation of Delaware plication February 11, rats. serial no. 592,.i1i

113 Glaims, (C11. 123-1493) internal combustion engines and more particularlit? ly to improved mechanism for retarding the ignition thereof. 7

In aviation and marine engines, more or less constant motor speed is maintained thus not requiring, for ordinary running, any material change in the timing of the ignition. Thus the complicated automatic or manual timing devices generally employed in connection with internal combustion engines are not necessary for normal operation of engines of the above character. Retarded ignition is, however, highly desirable in one instance, that is during starting oridling, and it is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to provide a novel ignition mechanism suitable for use under these circumstances.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel ignition apparatus adapted to provide. an internal combustion engine with suitably advanced or retarded ignition.

A further object of the invention is to provide an ignition system which may be especially ap-r plicable for aviation and marine use wherein a hit fined advanced timing is provided for running,

while a hired retarded ignition is provided for starting.

} A still further objectis to provide a dual ignition system utilizing the improved timing system and employing novel switch mechanism so constituted that the ignition may be selectively re-. tarded or advanced, or one or the other portion of the dual system may be used separately for test or for running.

Another object is to provide an improved'ignition mechanism comprising fewer movable parts and combining reliability with compactness and lightness in weight while maintaining all the necessary functions oian ignition system.

Still another object is to provide novel electrical switch means for the retarding ignition said means being operable to selectively connect the circuits of a dual ignition system without mechanical movement of the timing devices.

Other objects and novel features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing. it is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for pur poses of illustration only and is not to be taken as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

'In the drawing; wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the sever views:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic circuit of a preferred form of dual ignition system according to this invention;

Fig. 2 is a diagraatic showing of the switch of Fig. 1 shown in an off position;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing or the switch in position for dual retarded ignition; I

Fig. i is a diagrammatic showing of the switch in position for advanced ignition for the left hand distributor circuit only;

Fig. dis a diagrammatic showing of the switch of Fig. 1 shown, as in Fig. 1, in a position for addill vanced ignition for the right hand distributor cirid cuit only, and

Fig. 6 is a diagraatic showing of the switch of Fig. 1 shown in a position tor advanced dual ignition.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1, the present invention is illustrated as associated with a dual ignition'system having two identical breaker boxes liland 11 housing rotatable cams 12 and 13. Each of the breaker boxes 10 and 11 is preferably provided at) with two breakers 1d and 16 and 15 and 1'? respectively. The breakers 1a and 15 may be of the conventional pivoted arm type since they are utilized for the retarded ignition, during which use the motor speeds are low. The breakers 16 at and 17. however, are preierably oithe pivotless high speed type, in order to serve best the requirements oi an internal combustion engine op-.' erating at a relatively high speed.

In order to provide for advanced or retarded an ignition without the necessity of rotating the breaker box, or resorting to automatic timing, either of which requires additional moving parts, and which detracts from the rigid and safe construction of the breaker, the breaker arms of the as breakers 14 and hi, and 15 and 17 are set at a slight angle with respect to each other, such that the earns 12 and 13 first actuate breakers 16 and I 17 simultaneously and a short interval thereafter simultaneously actuate breakers 1d and 15, the

to the internal combustion engine, the primary of an induction coil 18 is connected at one end thereof to one contact of each breaker of the breaker box 10, the other end of the primary coil being led to the ground. A similar induction coil 19 is connected to the breakers of breaker box 11 in a like manner. The secondary of each of the induction coils is led to a suitable distributor, not shown, and thence to spark plugs or other suitable ignition means, as is well known in the art. To absorb the contact spark, condensers 20, 21, 22 and 23 are provided connected across the contacts of the respective breakers.

Means are provided for conveniently selecting the retarded breakers or the advanced breakers, or any one of the advanced breakers, such means embodying switch mechanism as shown at 25. Such switch mechanism preferably comprises a circular stator 26 and a rectangular rotor 27. The rectangular rotor is preferably provided with four roller contacts 28, 29, 30 and 31. The stator may be provided with contact segments 32-38, in-

clusive. The switch preferably has five positions:

first, off position, second, retarded ignition to both circuits (retarded dual ignition), third, advanced ignition to the left hand circuit only, fourth, advanced ignition to the right hand circuit only, and fifth, advanced ignition to both circuits (advanced dual ignition). Such a switch permits dual retarded ignition for easy starting, advanced ignition in either circuit for test or repair, and dual advanced ignition for normal operation.

Referring to Figs. 2-6 wherein the vario switch positions are illustrated, itwill be first observed that in Fig. 1 the contact segments 32 and 33 are shown as connected together, and to ground through the ignition battery 40. Contact segments 34 and 35 are also connected together and lead to the right hand advanced breaker. Contact segment 36 leads to the right hand retarded breaker. Contact segment 37 leads to the left hand advanced breaker while segment 38 leads to the retarded left hand breaker. The four rollers 28-31 upon the rotor are connected together. It therefore will appear that in Fig. 2, since none of the rollers of the rotor engage segments 32 or 33, no current can flow from the battery. Moving the switch to the position of Fig. 3, however, connects the battery to both retarded breakers through segments 32, 38 and 36. In Fig. 4 the rotor connects segments 33 and 37, thus giving advanced ignition to the left hand circuit. Similarly, in Fig. 5, also Fig. 1, the rotor connects segments 32 and 34, producing advanced ignition in the right hand circuit, and in Fig. 6, segments 33, 35 and 3'7 are connected producing dual advanced ignition.

There is thus provided by the present invention an improved dual ignition system so constructed as to avoid the necessity of rotating the distributor casing for timing, or the use of automatic timing devices. By providing the switch mechanism associated with the ignition circuits, a single means is secured for timing or selectively utilizing the separate circuits of the dual ignition system either separately or collectively thereby enabling the ready selection of the various circuits for starting test of advanced ignition or ordinary operation.

Though there has been illustrated and described only one embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is capable of being embodied in various electromechanical forms. For example, various types of breakers may be used, or the precise construction of the switch may be varied if desired as well as changes made to various other features, it being well understood by those skilled in the art that such changes do not depart from the spirit of this invention. "Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims tor a definition of the limits thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. An ignition circuit for internal combustion engines comprising, a single induction coil for feeding a sparking circuit, a battery, two interrupters adapted to be operated by a single rotary cam, the said interrupters being angularly disposed about said rotary cam so as to mechanically operate in close sequence, and connections in-. cluding a switch for placing said battery in circuit with said induction coil through either interrupter independently of the other, whereby an advanced or a retarded spark may take place in said sparking circuit.

2. An ignition circuit comprising two interrupters operated by a single rotary cam, said interrupters being angularly spaced about said cam to operate in close sequence and a switch adapted to connect either interrupter independently of the other in a primary circuit for an advanced or retarded interruption and correspondingly advanced or retarded secondary ignition.

3. An ignition circuit comprising a single source of electrical energy, two interrupters one advanced and one retarded, means for actuating said interrupters in close sequence, and means for placing either the advanced interrupter or the retarded interrupter in circuit to the exclusion of the other to produce advanced or retarded ignition.

4. An ignition system for an internal combustion engine comprising two breakers, means for operating said breakers in close sequence, said means drivably connected to said engine such that the first breaker in the sequence breaks to give a suitably advanced spark and the second breaker in the sequence breaks to give a suitably retarded spark, and switch means for selecting one of said breakers independently of the other.

5. A dual ignition system comprising two sets of two breakers, means for actuating the breakers in each set in close sequence, and switch means for selecting oneor the other breaker of each set.

6. A dual ignition system comprising two sets of two breakers, means for actuating the breakers in each set in close sequence, and switch means for selecting one of said breakers in either set, and for selecting either breaker of both sets.

'7. A dual ignition system comprising a plurality of sets of two breakers, means for actuating the breakers in each set in close sequence, and switch means for selecting either of said breakers of all of said sets.

8. An ignition circuit having a single source of energy and two breakers, means for actuating said breakers in close sequence, and switch means for selecting one or the other of said breakers independently, and for connecting said selected breaker with said source of energy.

9. An ignition circuit comprising two breakers,

means for actuating said breakers in close sequence, and switch means for selecting one or the other of said breakers independently, said switch means affecting only the breakers in circuit whereby the electrical constants of the ignition circuit may remain the same.

10. A dual ignition system comprising two sets of two breakers, and switch means for selecting one of said breakers in either set, and for selecting either breaker of both sets.

11. A dual ignition system having two circuits and comprising two sets of two breakers, means for actuating the breakers of one set in close sequence, and simultaneously with the breakers of the other set, and a single switch means for selecting said breakers, whereby retarded or advanced dual ignition or single ignition may be readily effected with either circuit.

12. In an ignition system of the type embodying an advanced ignition circuit and a retarded ignition circuit, the combination with said circuits, of a switch means therefor for selecting either .of said circuits, said means including a circular contact frame having contacts arranged therein, and a relatively movable substantially rectangular contact rotor having a plurality of contacts thereon adapted to selectively engage 0 said stationary contacts.

pair of ignition circuit breakers, means for actuating said breakers in close sequence, said means being adapted to operate one breaker in proper timed relation for advanced ignition and the other in proper timed relation for retarded ignition, a single ignition coil for feeding a sparking circuit, said circuit being electrically connected with one terminal of each of saidbreakers, a switch mechanism comprising a pair of stationary contacts electrically connected with each of the other terminals or said breakers respectively and a third stationary contact electrically connected with said battery, said switch mechanism including a rotor for selectively connecting said third stationary contact with either one of said pair of stationary contacts for electrically connecting said battery with either of said other terminals of the breakers to provide advanced or retarded ignition.

HERBERT C. WALTERS 

